We were delighted to recently host our 2nd Data Leadership Roundtable in Leeds led by Associate Director Richard James and Data & BI specialist consultant Callum Stephens. It was great bringing together a range of SMEs and Data leaders from across Yorkshire to discuss some real hot topics in the technology sector.
The roundtable focused on data ethics and the emergence of AI – a timely conversation since the arrival of ChatGPT disrupted the industry and spurned the development of countless other generative AI tools.
“When researching AI ahead of the event, it was difficult to find a neutral perspective, with the majority of literature either extremely positive or negative about the potential effects of using AI.
It’s only through speaking to people in the Data leadership space that you’re able to build out a full picture of the full AI landscape – from what it is to what it can do, and what has been inflated by the press.Callum Stephens, Consultant – Data/BI
The event really opened our eyes to where we are actually at with AI and even though the possibilities are endless, a lot of businesses still don’t know how to use data effectively, let alone bring AI into the mix. This is why Data Ethics was central to the event, not just AI, as a lot of businesses are not prepared to introduce AI in a responsible way yet.”
Data Leaders are often seen as the compass that will guide the progression of AI, and many data leader roles are developed with this responsibility in mind, to ensure that leaders are empowered to voice any potential concerns. Guests on the roundtable also reiterated the importance of leading with ethics, and not letting larger commissions or opportunities to cut costs dictate strategy.
Among the events outcomes, were three key considerations:
The event included themes such as hope for the future and trusting a team, and proved that such considerations were just as important as the more technical elements of development.
This highlighted the importance of allowing Data and Technical Leaders to input on the progression of AI, as they can not only incorporate technical elements into their decision making, but wider concerns too.
When looking at the topic of bias, it was clear that AI can only be effective when data is of a high quality – something that can prove difficult for a lot of businesses. In fact, for many, this can mean that businesses aren’t able to use their data at all, let alone incorporate it into AI tools.
Current use of AI tends to centre around the completion of very specific, menial tasks which allow businesses to complete tasks at the same rate as they might have pre-AI, whilst reallocating valuable resources elsewhere. However, the introduction of open forums and generative AI threatens this, changing the landscape completely and raising concerns about whether AI will eventually come to replace some job roles.
Is AI a realistic threat? Perhaps… But this is why the topic of Data Ethics and AI is so important, because the successful integration of AI into society relies on trusting that the people building it, will do so responsibly.
What was clear from the roundtable discussion is that the leaders all understood the potential and positive impact AI can have – especially to help drive efficiencies. However, all recognised how crucial it is to get the right foundations in place.
We would like to extend our thanks to all who attended the event and we look forward to hosting future discussions.
Interested in getting involved in any future events? Please reach out to the team at Harvey Nash Leeds or directly with Richard James and Callum Stephens.